Mustang, 10 March: The temperate fruit orchards in Mustang are in full bloom. The various fruit trees of the Temperate Horticulture Development Center in Gharpajhong-2 Marfa are now in full bloom. This year, the temperate flowers have started blooming a few weeks later than in previous years.
The Temperate Horticulture Development Center, located mainly in Marfa, has been working on the production of fruits and vegetables grown in temperate climates, as well as the production of seeds and seedlings. The development of apple cultivation in the district was also initiated by this center. It is the same center in Mustang, which is also emphasizing on the production of seeds and seedlings of various varieties of fruits here. The contribution that the center has been making to supporting the economic development of the farmers of Mustang and improving the living standards of the farmers here by developing fruit and vegetable cultivation is incomparable.
With the onset of spring, the temperate fruit trees here have begun to bloom. The high-chilling varieties produced by the center, i.e., paper almonds, peaches, peaches, and khurpani, which require high humidity, have gradually begun to bloom and smile. In this way, tourists who visit the center and observe the blooming of flowers on fruit trees that require high humidity are fascinated. However, the center has stated that the apple trees here will begin to bloom only in the last month of April or in the month of May.
Padmanath Atreya, head of the district’s Horticulture Development Center and other farmers, informed that most of the varieties of this type of fruit are in the flowering stage. He said that most of the varieties produced at the center are high-chilling, that is, fruits that require high humidity. He said that such high-chilling fruit plants require humidity for 800 to 1,000 hours.
The main fruit varieties produced at the center include paper almonds of the Ne Plus Ultra variety. Among these main fruits, peaches include one Early Red variety and the other Oraine variety. Peaches are of the Mithle and Santaroja varieties. Khurpani is of the Sakkarpara variety. Center Chief Atreya informed that this type of variety mainly found at the center is an important variety.
Center Chief Atreya said that the effects of climate change have recently started to adversely affect these types of fruits, which are produced in high geography ranging from 1,800 meters to about 3,000 meters above sea level. “We have felt that the flowering process is a little faster due to the increase in the temperature of the ground due to climate change,” Center Chief Atreya added, “These types of flower varieties, which are produced in the lower areas of Mustang every year, have started moving up.” He said that due to partial snowfall and frost at favorable times, this has started to affect the Marpha and Jomsom areas of Gharpajhong. He informed that the center is working to produce quality seedlings every year and prepare processed products from such varieties and sell and distribute them.
The center is processing the fruit of the Khurpani tree to prepare brandy, jam and sukuti. Similarly, wine is being made from peaches. Center Chief Atreya mentioned that the center is working on selling fresh peaches and producing paper almond seedlings.
